According to statistics provided by the Cornell University Department of Veterinary Science
an estimated 12 million healthy cats and dogs and other small animals, including
birds, are
euthanized in shelters each year.
Approximately 75% of all cats and kittens that are
relinquished to shelters and over 56% of dogs and puppies entering shelters are
destroyed. If you give somebody an unexpected pet as a gift, that little life may end up
being one of these very sad statistics, a healthy, loving pet that was killed.

These horrendous statistics are the result of pet over population.
Too many humans get their pets on a whim, receive them as gifts, or get them for
their young children who are not responsible enough to care for them on their
own. Other people fail to have their pets spayed or neutered. They either don't care
about pets being destroyed in shelters or they are unaware that there are more
pets that need homes then people willing to give them homes. This is reprehensible because each one of these animals would
have made a loving companion to a human. These tragic deaths could have been prevented.

What does this have to do with you getting one little puppy, kitten, bird or
other animal for somebody as a gift? Plenty. Do you want to add to
this tragedy by giving an animal to a person who
may not really want to make a commitment to a pet? Do you know if this person
even wants to take on the responsibility or the mess associated with becoming a pet owner?
Are they willing to housebreak and train
a puppy or tame a bird? What about cleaning out a litter box and the odor if not changed regularly?
Do they really want to spend an hour every 2 weeks hauling a bird cage into the
bathtub to disinfect? Are they going to mind having animal fur or bird feathers and droppings all over their
clothes, furniture and house? What about cats clawing on furniture or puppies and
parrots chewing on furniture? Pets do all of these things and more. It's unrealistic to
think that everybody is an animal lover like you or that they will find
these little chores and antics as simple, cute, amusing or endearing
as you do.

Want some more reasons why you should surprise somebody with a pet for a gift?
Can your friend or loved one really afford to own and take care of pet? Is the recipient of this living, breathing animal willing to have a cat or dog
spayed/neutered and will they keep the pet up to date with required
immunizations? Are they willing to take a bird to an avian vet once a year for a
healthy bird check up, which includes blood tests and gram stains or do
they consider birds a disposable commodity because they are small? A yearly
healthy bird check up can cost up to $150 a year. Are they willing to pay
for medical bills when a pet gets sick or injured or are pets easily replaceable?

Cats, dogs and medium to large sized birds have a very long lifespan. Puppies and kittens are
adorable and cute, but they DO grow into full sized animals very quickly.
Young, sweet, hand tamed birds grow into adult parrots and personality changes
can be expected with adulthood. Once the novelty of a new pet
wears off it may suddenly become an inconvenience, resulting in animal neglect, abuse, abandonment, or the animal
ultimately being euthanized. How about the bird that the family falls in love
with and then because it doesn't talk or to tricks, they get a dog and send the
bird off to a shelter. Do you want any of this on your conscience? After all, you are the one giving them
a small animal as a gift.

Gift Ideas

If you would really like to give somebody a pet as a gift, but now know that you
could be making a big mistake, here are a few
suggestions that can help decrease the pet over population epidemic. Make a
donation to your local animal shelter in the gift recipient's name, which can be
applied towards adopting a pet after they have had time to really think about
the responsibility involved.Still not good enough?

Along with the donation, purchase a stuffed animal, a beanie baby, a
an animal figurine, a set of mugs with animal pictures on them, pet themed
calendars, a chia pet, a book on pets, writing paper with pictures of animals,
an animal keychain, a movie about pets such as 101 Dalmatians or The Incredible
Journey, a subscription to a magazine on animals. We know there is a whole world
out there full of pet themed gifts to accompany your donation to a local
shelter. There now, don't you feel better? You have other ideas to give as
a gift, you are helping out your local shelter and you may have just saved the life of an animal.

Each year millions of unwanted pets are born and most are treated like disposable commodities
One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years
One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years. Please spay
or neuter your pets and help stop this vicious cycle of death.